Fly weight governor assembly



y 1965 'r. B. MARTIN FLY WEIGHT GOVERNOR ASSEMBLY Filed May 20, 1963 My 6 mW u m flflr/mv 4 M M 4 d 4 United States Patent 3,184,979 FLY WEIGHT GOVERNOR ASSEMBLY Thomas B. Martin, Micro-Pump Corp, R0. Box 392, Danville, Calif. Filed May 20, 1963, Ser. No. 281,518 8 Claims. (Ci. 7353) This invention relates to a new and improved fly weight governor assembly and is characterized by the fact that the construction of the governor uses a plurality of fly weights which are mounted on a rotating base by means of flexible Wire as distinguished from the conventional fly weight governor which employs linkages.

A principal feature and advantage of the present invention is the reduction in friction which is accomplished by the use of the construction of the invention. Friction in the linkage mountings of conventional governors tends to reduce the sensitivity of the governor. Further, the governor tends to over control which causes a hunting of the control. :In other words, because of the lag in movement of the governor due to frictional resistance of the moving part, the device tends to overshoot and then must compensate in the opposite direction for the overshooting. All these disadvantages of conventional governors are overcome by the present invention.

A still further feature of the invention is the reduction in cost which is accomplished by this construction as compared with other governors to perform a similar control.

A still further feature of the invention is its compact ness. Because of the construction of conventional fly weight governors the maximum diameter occupied by the rotating member is quite large and, where space limitations are significant, the reduction in space which is achieved by the present invention is quite important.

As a. corollary of the foregoing space reduction, a feature of the invention is the fact that more weight is accommodated per unit of diameter of the device.

A still further feature of the invention is the fact that there are few movable parts and that accordingly maintenance problems are reduced.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

'In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the governor, the line of the section being shown substantially at 1-'1 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the maximum displacement of the fly weights.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substan tially along the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fly weights of the governor.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a typical installation -for use of the governor.

The present invention employs a base 11 which is a horizontally-disposed disc rotated about a drive shaft 12 which is directly driven by the turbine, motor or other device 13 being controlled. A typical use for the present invention is in connection with a small turbine engine driven by a liquid or gaseous fuel wherein the fuel supply is controlled by a speed-governed valve 14 shown in FIG. 5, as hereinafter described in detail. It will be understood that the invention is adaptable to many other uses. Projecting upwardly from base 111 is a plurality of short sections of flexible wire 16, such as piano wire. The lower ends of the wire are received and held in holes 17 spaced in the top of base 11 equ distant from 3,184,?9 Patented May 25, T1965 the axis of rotation of shaft 12. A plurality of fly weights 18 is supported by wires 16, there preferably being two wires 16 for each weight 18. As illustrated herein, there are four fly weights 18 equally spaced in the governor but it will be understood that so long as the governor is dynamically balanced the number of fly weights 18 is a matter of choice. Each fly weight 18 has a cylindrical central portion 19, an inturned foot 21 having a peripheral rim 22 at the bottom and a heavy peripheral flange 23 at the top. Rim 22 is formed with a pattern of holes 24 similar to holes 17. Flange 23 is likewise formed at its bottom surfiace with holes 26, the depth of holes 26 being less than thickness of flange 23. Hence, the bottom of wire 16 fits in the bottom of hole 1'] in base 11, extends through hole 24 in rim 22 and the top of wire '16 extends fully into hole 26. The dimensions of the wires 16 are such that the bottom of rim 22 is spaced above the top of base 11.

It is desirable that a cover 27 enclose the fly weights 18. The cover prevents the fly weights from coming off the wires 16 during transportation and storage or during assembly and also when the device is not in operation. It also comprises a stop for inward and outward movement of the fly weights at the same rotational speed. The cover may also be used to contain oil for other fluids so that the fly weights float in fluid and the centrifugal force is always consistent. Accordingly, the cover 27 has :a cylindrical central portion 28 having at its bottom a short intur-ned flange 29 which is forced into peripheral groove =31 in base 11. At the top, cylinder 28 has an inturned flange 32 having a downwardly turned lip 3-3. To avoid interference with extension 37 of spool 38 the top of cylindrical portion 18 of each fly weight may be cut away in a recess 34. It will thus be seen that fluid may be placed through the central hole 36 in lip 33, or through central hole 49 in extension 37 of spool 38, and the interior of cover 28 filled to the suitable level. Such fluid will suspend the significant part of the weight of fly weights 18 and also lubricate any surfaces subjected to friction.

A typical installation of the device is shown in FIG. 5. An extension '37 of the spool 38 of valve 14 is for-med with a rounded terminal 39 which rests upon the tops of inwardly extending feet 21 of fly weights 18. Spool 38 extends within the casing 4 1 of valve 14 and is biased downwardly by a spring 42 in said casing, spring 42 being adjustable :by means of screw 43. Spool 38 has valve lands 44 interiorly thereof which, as the spool moves longitudinally of housing 41, control communication between inlet 46 and outlets 47 and 48 and hence cause the flow of fluid from inlet 46 to be distributed to outlets 4-7 and 48 depending upon the governor position. As shown in FIG. 5, when the governor is at rest the wires 16 hold feet 21 against their inturned stop to oppose the force of spring 42. This depresses terminus .39 to its extremely downward position and accordingly adjusts valve spool 38 similarly. Hence the flow of fluid from outlet 48 is used to drive motor 13 and is at maximum valve opening. As the speed of motor 13 builds up, base 1 1 turns and this in turn drives fly weights 18 rotatively.

The center of gravity of fly weights 18 is shown schematically in FIG. 2. As the speed of the governor increases, the centrifugal force of fiy weights 18 overcomes the force of springs 42 and causes an outward flexure of wires 16 which bend as best shown in FIG. 2. Bending of fly weights 1% causes the 001; 21 of each to rise from the position of FIGS. 1 and 5 to the position of FIG. 2 and this lifts extremity 39 and moves spool 38 toward its opposite position. By reason of the flexible nature of wires 16, the deflection of fly weights 18 is dependent upon the speed of rotation acting against the force of spring 42 and hence the valve .14 may be used position until centrifugal force overcomes the preset force of spring 42. Once such force .is overcome, spring 42 compresses its maximum distance and permits valve travel over a very narrow speed range. Thus, the governor controls speed very closely, depending on the setting of spring 42. Speed may be varied by adjustment of the preload of spring 42. p

p The Wires v16 allow the fly weights 18 to rock without friction about the hinged. axis where wire l6 passes through hole 24. i There is negligible resistance to such flexu-re. Accordingly, not only is the device relatively frictionless, but the governor is very compact inthat there is very little diametric difference between the outside dimensions of the governor and diameter of fly weights 1 8 as contrasted with conventional fly weigh governor linkages.

' What is claimed is: p I I 1. A governor comprising a rotatable base, a plurality of fly weights, a pair of flexible members for each said fly weight of substantially equal length fixed at one end to said base, said fly weight formed with'first apertures adjacent said .base for passage of said flexible members and with second apertures remote from said base to receive said flexible members, said flexible members slid- :able in said first apertures, said fly weights further formed cut away from said flexible members intermediate said first and second apertures, said. flexible members free to deflect between said apertures.

2. A governor according .ot claim 1, which further comprisesa valve actuating stem and cooperating means on said stem and said flyweights to transmit movement of said fiyweights into movement of said stem.

3. A governor according to claim 1, which "further compriseswa cover fixed to said base and surrounding said flyweights, said cover *limitingoutward and inward movement of said flyweights.

4. A governor according to claim 1, in which said flexible members are sections :of Wire.

5. A governor according .to claim 4, in which said fly weights are formed with outward projecting rims near said base and said first apertures.

6. A governor comprising a rotatable base and a plurality of identical flyweights, each said flyweight having :a central portion disposed parallel to and spaced from the axis of rotation of ,said base,a foot directed inward from said central portion and a rim directed outward from said central portion adjacent said base, a heavy flange directed outward from said central portionremote from said base and for each said flyweight a pairrof flexible wires imbedded in said-base passing through holes in said rimand imbedded in said frame, whereby rotation of said basecauses rotation-of said flyweights and outward deflection of said flanges, said wires bending outward to accommodate said deflect-ion;

7. A governor according to claim'6,.whicl1 further comprisesa circular cover fixed to said base and outside,

said flywei hts', said flanges contacting said cover to limit outward deflection thereof.

8. A governor according to claim 6, which further comprises a stem having a terminusen-gaging the inner ends of said feet, whereby deflection of said flanges moves said feet away from said base and moves said terminus and said stem away from said base dependent upon speed of rotation of said base.

References Cited'by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS,

423,221. 3/ Cole I 73546 1,773,957 8/30 Creed 73-546 2,003,817 *6/35] Al'men 73-539 2,639,134 5/53 Winslow 73-550 Merchant 73',-546

. FOREIGN PATENTS 276,595 7 8/30 Italy. RICHARD C. QUEISSER,.Primary Examiner,

J. GILL, Examiner. 

1. A GOVERNOR COMPRISING A ROTATABLE BASE, A PLURALITY OF FLY WEIGHTS, A PAIR OF FLEXIBLE MEMBERS FOR EACH SAID FLY WEIGHT OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL LENGTH FIXED AT ONE END TO SAID BASE, SAID FLY WEIGHT FORMED WITH FIRST APERTURES ADJACENT SAID BASE FOR PASSAGE OF SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBERS AND WITH SECOND APERTURES REMOTE FROM SAID BASE TO RECEIVE SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBERS, SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBERS SLIDABLE IN SAID FIRST APERTURES, SAID FLY WEIGHTS FURTHER FORMED CUT AWAY FROM SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBERS INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST AND SECOND APERTURES, SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBERS FREE TO DEFLECT BETWEEN SAID APERTURES. 